Skip to content
SMARTASAURUS
· Discoveries archive

Articles

The full Smartasaurus archive. Search, filter, sort - fall down any rabbit hole.

Series
Showing 457 discoveries
When You Are The Prey · Part 1 · 10 discoveriesOpen series
South American sea lions don't surrender on land
When You Are The Prey

South American sea lions don't surrender on land

A South American sea lion doesn't become helpless when it leaves the water. Its rear flippers rotate beneath its body, turning an ocean hunter into a heavyweight that can walk.

Crocodile farms turn dangerous predators into livestock
When You Are The Prey

Crocodile farms turn dangerous predators into livestock

On a crocodile farm, an egg becomes a commercial investment. Heat helps determine its sex, skin quality shapes its value, and the business begins long before the first bite.

The otter families that send jaguars away
When You Are The Prey

The otter families that send jaguars away

A jaguar at the riverbank can meet a surprisingly loud reception: giant otters confronting it together until the cat leaves. Their advantage isn't just teeth. It's company.

A stingray killed Steve Irwin by accident
When You Are The Prey

A stingray killed Steve Irwin by accident

Steve Irwin wasn't killed by venom, but by a mechanical fluke. Discover the physics behind the stingray's defensive reflex and why this 'attack' was a one-in-a-million accident.

Capybaras aren't safe from crocodiles
When You Are The Prey

Capybaras aren't safe from crocodiles

The internet thinks capybaras and caimans are best friends, but diet studies from the Pantanal prove these giant rodents are actually a main course for South America's predators.

Cassowary: the bird that can gut you
When You Are The Prey

Cassowary: the bird that can gut you

Meet the Southern Cassowary, a flightless bird armed with five-inch dagger claws and a kick powerful enough to disembowel a human in a single leap.

Leopards hunt dogs in our backyards
When You Are The Prey

Leopards hunt dogs in our backyards

A leopard can sprint over 58 kilometers per hour, but it's not speed that gives it an advantage over a domestic dog. It's the cat's calculated risk.

Lions don't live up to their hype
When You Are The Prey

Lions don't live up to their hype

Often called the 'King of the Jungle,' lions actually have a surprisingly unimpressive list of physical feats compared to other big cats. Their roar is their true power.

Why ostriches chase bikers
When You Are The Prey

Why ostriches chase bikers

It's not random! These birds have a surprisingly valid reason for their speedy pursuits

Why wild animals sometimes eat people
When You Are The Prey

Why wild animals sometimes eat people

When curiosity meets a wild animal, it can get dangerous. Here's how to stay safe